Fuck me that was a long night! After I got back to my house, picked up my truck, drove to Frank’s and collected the piping I was shattered, yet then I had to drive back, unload it all and get home!

By the time I flopped into bed, I was exhausted and only had 5 hours before I had to get up for a tough day of work.

Thursday was no better, and I almost missed practice entirely I was so busy.

I finally arrived, just as Larry kicked off the practice match. I changed as fast as I could, with all of my muscles protesting at their overuse.

I was shit! Not just feeling sorry for myself shit, objectively shit.

After days of overworking to keep on schedule, I really struggled to keep up with my teammates. My passes were sloppy, my tackles were weak, and my running was pathetically slow.

About to crouch down for a scrum, I saw a worried look in Miguel’s dark eyes.

Trying to reassure him and the others I smiled, but there must have been something off with my lips, because his brows pinched together in the middle and he wasn’t the only one.

They won the scrum and Larry passed the ball to Cap who passed it off to Miguel; I took him down with a solid tackle and managed to half roll him over.

Paul came in over the top of me into the ruck of Cap and Eric, when his knee caught me on the back.

It wasn’t the hardest hit I’ve taken but it was square in the middle of my bruise.

Even for a masochist like me, it was too much pain. I cried out as my back arched, then I slumped forward trembling.

The others all got up till it was just me laying over Miguel.

Shifting round below me, Miguel lifted me up, “what happened?”

I’m ashamed to say tears ran down my cheeks and I couldn’t speak. Fuck, that hurt worse than the original injury.

Gently Miguel lifted my shirt, oh the cold air felt good.

“Oh fuck Stiffy.” Came Yon’s usually loud voice in a soft gasp.

I guess my bruise finally came out fully. Dropping my shirt back down, Miguel got up and pulled me up by my shaking hands.

“It’s not that bad.” I managed to say through clenched teeth round my mouth guard, but I couldn’t stop trembling.

Cap said in a soft tone, “no, it is that bad Jonathan. If I had known, I never would have let you play. I’m sorry but I’m going to have to bench you.”

“Please don’t bench me.” I pleaded.

“You can’t play in this state, it’s dangerous.” Replied Cap, his gentle tone was somehow worse than if he had yelled.

Putting my arm over his shoulder, Miguel said, “I’ll come back after getting him to the shower.”

Cap replied, “there isn’t long left, would it be too much to ask you to help Jonathan change? I have no idea how he got in and out of his shirt with that injury.”

There were little cat calls from the others, but no one seemed to have the heart to tease us, it was more their way of asking Miguel to look after me.

Damn, it must be bad!

Walking me across to the club house, Miguel asked, “are you OK?”

I dropped my head, I didn’t want him to see me like this, I wanted to be a good sub choice, “I’m fine.”

His powerful fingers pinched my waist, and I couldn’t help but moan softly.

A dark wolfish grin curled his lips as he murmured, “you want fun like this don’t you?”

I swallowed loudly, he definitely knows I’m a pervert, I nodded and turned my face from him so he couldn’t see my shame.

His hand squeezed hard where he had just pinched and I softly moaned again, as pain raced pleasingly past my bruise and up my spine.

Oh crap I can’t stop moaning while held by his arm.

“Then you had best not lie about your pain again.” Growled Miguel.

I couldn’t keep the lust from my voice as I replied, “yes Miguel.”

His strong hand slid down to my bum as he pushed me up the stairs, and I struggled to lift my legs smoothly with such a hard lower half.

In the long locker room he very naturally took my hand.

Oh crap, how many lovers has he had?

Pulling me over to our clothes he gently pushed me down onto the bench, then dropped down to one knee and started to undo my boots.

“I can do that.” I said hastily, I didn’t want him looking after me, I want to be the one looking after him.

Leaning back on his heels he said, “go on then.”

I didn’t even manage to lean halfway down when a little whimper left my lips.

“Mmm hmm, now are you going to let me help you?”

Leaning back up and sucking in some cold air to deal with the pain, I said meekly, “please help me.”

“You are so cutely sexy when you whimper and ask for my help.” Said Miguel in a rich deep tone that made my heart sing and my skin goosebump.

I’ve never managed to be sexy, and I’ve never even tried to be cute!

I mean really now, I’m a plump on a good day, barrel chested guy, who scares most people with my looks.

How the hell am I supposed to be cute?!

I froze not knowing what to say or do, while Miguel removed my boots.

Standing up he gently pulled me to my feet again by my wrists, while saying, “up you get.”

Holding my arms up above my head he whispered in my ear, “hold still while I strip you.”

I shivered, “yes Miguel.”

His soft hands caressed my cheeks as he undid my scrum cap and dropped it to the bench, then slid sensually down and back up my sides as he lifted my shirt up. The rough fabric scraped against my bruise and a less than manly whimper escaped my lips.

Pulling the filthy shirt over my head Miguel said softly, “there is the cute little whimper I like from my sexy man.”

Oh fuck me, he is good.

Dropping my shirt on the floor he cupped my cheeks, his left thumb caressing the long scar on my right cheek, and I dropped my arms back down to my sides.

“Jonathan, you like me right?”

Between his soft touch and the deep richness of his voice, it all felt like a dream.

“Yes, I like you.”

“In a different way to how you like Cap and the other guys?”

His deep eyes captivated me, and I answered softly, “in a very different way.”

“Can I kiss you?”

“Yes...” like a disappearing dream his words broke the spell he held over me. “Kiss me?”

“Yes, can I kiss you?”

My heart thundered in my ears, “yes.”

Gently holding my head still, his lips softy pressed to mine for a moment before he withdrew. His dark eyes held uncertainty as he checked my reaction.

No! I want more!

I was just about to lunge forwards when we heard the others chatting loudly as they walked to the stairs.

In a mad dash, Miguel jumped back and yanked his clothes off.

While groaning loudly, I pulled down my shorts and boxers, and we both raced to the showers.

Just as we turned the taps on, there was a blast of cold air as the guys came in from outside.

Grinning like a naughty kid, Miguel stroked my cheek and whispered, “that was close.”

“Too close!”

Fuck, I want him! I want to kiss him more! Damn you all, sod off back outside, I just need 5 minutes, 1 minute will do!

Prince came in first and asked, “what have you two been up to? You're bright red.” Before either of us could answer he said, “actually I don’t want to know, just don’t have too much fun in front of me.”

Miguel’s deep voice came out amazingly calm as he asked, “you jealous I got our Stiffy?”

“Damn right, give him back to me.” Said Paul with a laugh as he came into the shower.

“Never, he is mine now.” Replied Miguel and put his arm round my shoulder.

I froze, rock solid in more ways than one, fuck I hope that is true! Please say I am now his!

Cap saw us and said disapprovingly, “don’t freak Jonathan out like that; especially while he is injured.”

Miguel’s arm tensed round me for a moment, and I swear he shot a dark look at Cap.

Then the next moment he lifted off my shoulder with a smile on his face and turned to the shower.

I got my shampoo in my hand and let out a little hiss as I raised my hands to my hair.

Wiping his eyes, Miguel asked, “would you like me to wash your back for you?”

“To be honest I’m struggling, I can't even get shampoo in my hair,” holding out my hand to show him my uselessness, I said, “let alone wash my back.”

Gently Miguel scraped the shampoo into his hand, “let me.”

“Oh my god, you two are so cute together.” Said Larry excitedly.

Dave asked what I was thinking, “what is up with you Lolly? You sound like a teenage girl.”

Sighing Larry replied, “I think I’ve seen too many of my daughter’s TV shows, I think it may have rotted my mind.”

“Isn’t your daughter 18?” Asked Paul, his confusion clear in his tone.

Sighing even louder, Larry said, “yeah, her shows are getting more cute and romantic, I have no idea what to do with her.”

“Do nothing, cute is great at that age,” said Kevin, “I swear I walked in on my 19-year-old daughter watching porn the other day. You can’t un-see that!”

The room around us broke into talk of parenting and the problems of youth. However, I was lost to the sensations of Miguel massaging shampoo into my scalp, then caressing my cheek while no one was looking.